junk ball; off-speed pitch
Baseball term for a pitch with unpredictable movement or change of pace, often used to deceive the batter.
unexpected move; unorthodox measure
Figurative extension from baseball: a tricky or unconventional action that catches someone off guard.
statement with an ulterior motive; loaded remark
Only when written 曲球
Used when someone says something that seems innocent but has a hidden agenda. Restricted to the 曲球 spelling.
He got the batter out by skillfully using a junk ball.
He threw an unexpected move in the negotiation and confused the other party.
His proposal feels like a loaded remark; I sense there's something behind it.
Standard kanji spelling for the baseball sense and the figurative 'tricky move' sense.
Used specifically for the sense of a statement or request with an ulterior motive. Can also be read きょっきゅう, but that reading is not part of this word.
Mixed kana-kanji spelling, common in casual writing.
Mixed kana-kanji spelling, common in casual writing.
Compound of 癖 (くせ, 'habit; peculiarity') and 球 (たま, 'ball'). Originally a baseball term for a pitch with an awkward or deceptive quality, later extended figuratively to tricky moves and loaded remarks.